Khirbet ‘Ether
June 22 - July 18, 2025
other
Investigating Judahite Agriculture
The excavations of Khirbet ‘Ether are a continuation of the Tel Burna Excavation Project. The Tel Burna excavations ended in 2024 and are in an intensive publication phase. In the process of the Tel Burna excavations, surveys of the hinterland as well as a surface survey of the nearby site of Khirbet ‘Ether were conducted. Our results showed a site that was occupied during the Late Iron IIA through the Iron IIC (contemporary with Tel Burna), as well as in later periods, especially the Byzantine period.
Khirbet ʿEther is almost certainly identical to biblical Ether – a town mentioned in the Libnah district of Judah – right after Libnah and before Ashan (Joshua 15:42). The two Judean towns/villages sit directly across from each other with the Guvrin River between them. ‘Ether is a smaller site than Tel Burna (Libnah) and was either not fortified or not as well fortified. In the Iron Age, it seems that it was the next tier down from Libnah, which itself is only a fortified town compared to the administrative center of nearby Lachish (the second-most important town in Judah during the period).
Few studies deal with agricultural customs and those which focus on ancient fields are very rare. Hence, this new project aims to investigate this aspect of the ancient local economy by comparing and analyzing the various finds in two nearby sites of Tel Burna and Tel ‘Ether and the agricultural installations and fields surrounding these sites. Our research will consist of surveying and collecting data on each side of the river, as well as the excavations of Khirbet ‘Ether. Come join us this summer as we attempt to reconstruct the relationship between two towns in the heartland of Judah.
Details
Geographic Location
Shephelah, South-Central Israel
Dates of the Dig
June 22 - July 18, 2025
Minimum Stay
1 Week
Application Due
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Academic Credit/Cost per Credit/Institution
Up to 6 credits are available from Lipscomb University. Contact for more details.
Accommodations
During the week, the team stays in the beautiful guesthouse at Kibbutz Netiv HaLamed Heh. The guesthouse is situated right beside biblical Socoh in the Elah Valley, where the biblical text indicates that David fought Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-2). The kibbutz is a short drive away from Beth Shemesh and about a half-an-hour drive from Jerusalem.
Cost
Directors
Itzick Shai: Ariel University
Steven Ortiz: Lipscomb University
Contact
Dr. Steven Ortiz
615-966-5995
To learn how you can get involved, visit their website.
In the free eBook, A Digger’s Life: A Guide to the Archaeology Dig Experience, step into an archaeological excavation and find out what it takes to find, prepare for, and work on a dig.
